A missed payment is recorded on your credit file when you fail to make a required payment on a credit agreement by the due date. This includes payments on credit cards, loans, mortgages, mobile phone contracts, and utility bills (if reported).

Missed payments stay on your credit report for 6 years from the date of the missed payment. Each missed payment is recorded individually, so if you had several over a period, they'll drop off at different times as each reaches its 6-year anniversary.

The impact of missed payments reduces over time. Missed payments from 3+ years ago have much less effect on mortgage applications than recent ones. After 6 years, they're automatically removed by all three UK credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion).

For detailed information on timelines and removal, see our guide on how long missed payments stay on your credit report.

Yes, you can absolutely get a mortgage with missed payments on your credit file. While high street lenders typically require a clean payment history for the past 12 months, specialist and near-prime lenders in the UK specifically cater to borrowers with adverse credit histories. The key factors that determine your eligibility include how recent the missed payments occurred, the total number of missed payments, and whether they were on secured or unsecured credit.

Specialist lenders take a more pragmatic approach, recognising that financial difficulties can happen to anyone. They assess your current affordability and overall financial stability rather than rejecting applications based solely on past payment history. Many of our clients with missed payments have successfully secured competitive mortgage rates by working with the right lenders.

What specialist lenders consider:

• Time elapsed since the missed payments occurred
• Whether you've maintained consistent payments since
• Your current income and employment stability
• The size of your deposit (larger deposits open more options)
• Type of credit affected (mortgage arrears vs utility bills)

For comprehensive guidance on adverse credit lending, visit our bad credit mortgages page or check your situation with our mortgage missed payments quick answer guide.

A single missed payment on your credit file doesn't automatically disqualify you from obtaining a mortgage, though its impact depends on several factors. If the missed payment occurred more than 12 months ago and you've maintained an otherwise clean payment history, many mainstream lenders will still consider your application. However, a recent missed payment within the last six months will have a more significant effect on your options.

The type of account matters considerably. A missed mortgage payment or secured loan payment carries more weight than a late utility bill or mobile phone payment. Lenders scrutinise mortgage-related payment history particularly closely since it directly relates to housing costs. That said, even with a missed mortgage payment, specialist lenders may still approve your application if you can demonstrate improved financial behaviour.

How one missed payment affects different lender types:

• High street lenders: May decline if within last 12 months
• Building societies: Often more flexible for minor credit blips
• Near-prime lenders: Typically accept one missed payment if over 6 months old
• Specialist lenders: Generally accommodate single missed payments at any time

Learn more about how credit issues affect borrowing in our guide to removing missed payments from your credit report.

Accidentally missing a mortgage payment is more common than you might think. Perhaps your direct debit failed due to insufficient funds, you changed bank accounts and forgot to update the details, or there was a technical issue with the payment. The good news is that lenders understand genuine accidents happen, and if you act quickly, you may avoid any lasting damage to your credit file.

Most mortgage lenders won't report a missed payment to credit reference agencies until you're at least 30 days in arrears. If you notice the missed payment and make it up within this window, you may escape with just a late fee rather than a mark on your credit file. Contact your lender immediately to explain the situation and arrange payment – most are understanding about genuine one-off errors.

Steps to take after accidentally missing a payment:

• Contact your lender immediately to explain and arrange payment
• Make the payment as soon as possible to minimise reporting risk
• Request confirmation that no adverse data will be recorded
• Set up a backup direct debit from a secondary account
• Check your credit file after 30 days to ensure no mark was added

If an accidental missed payment does appear on your credit file, our missed payments mortgage advice explains your options. You may also find our bad credit mortgage solutions helpful.

Missed payments on your credit score can have a significant impact, though the extent varies based on several factors. Each missed payment is recorded on your credit file and typically causes your credit score to drop. The amount of the drop depends on whether it's your first missed payment, how recent it is, and the type of credit involved. A missed payment on a mortgage or secured loan affects your score more severely than one on an unsecured credit card or utility bill.

Your credit score will recover over time as long as you maintain consistent on-time payments going forward. The impact of a missed payment credit score reduction lessens each month that passes, and after around 12-24 months, the negative effect is substantially reduced. After six years, missed payments are automatically removed from your credit file entirely by all three UK credit reference agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

Understanding missed payments and credit scores:

• One missed payment can reduce your score by 50-80 points initially
• Multiple missed payments compound the negative effect significantly
• Recent missed payments (under 12 months) have the greatest impact
• Mortgage lenders focus on the last 3-6 years of credit history
• Your score begins recovering within 3-6 months of consistent payments

For detailed guidance on timelines and recovery, see our complete guide to missed payments on credit reports. If you're concerned about your credit score, our bad credit mortgage specialists can help assess your options.